Tech innovation and how it’s making roads safer

The tech making our roads safer and what it means for fleets

Today’s vehicles are the safest they’ve ever been, and much of that is down to technology that watches the road alongside the driver. For fleet managers, understanding what’s out there can help cut accidents, protect drivers and keep vehicles on the road.

Here’s a look at the key safety technologies – and where self-driving fits in.

Automatic emergency braking (AEB)

Automatic emergency braking uses sensors to spot obstacles ahead. If a collision looks likely, it warns the driver – and if they don’t react, it applies the brakes automatically.

Thatcham Research has called it one of the most important safety advances since the seatbelt, estimating it could save 1,100 lives and prevent 122,860 casualties in the UK over ten years. A study by Euro NCAP and Australasian NCAP found AEB reduced real-world rear-end crashes by 38%.

Basic systems work at low speeds to prevent minor urban bumps. More advanced ones work at higher speeds, and the best can detect pedestrians and cyclists too.

Blind spot detection

Changing lanes at speed means looking away from the road ahead, even if only for a moment. Blind spot monitoring uses sensors in the bumpers and mirrors to detect vehicles you can’t see, and alerts you with a light or sound before you move over.

Lane keeping and speed assistance

AEB is part of a wider family of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which use cameras, radar and lidar to support the driver:

• Lane keep assist gently steers or brakes to stop the vehicle drifting out of its lane.

• Intelligent speed assistance warns the driver when they go over the limit or can actively limit the vehicle’s speed.

AI-powered dashcams

Modern dashcams do far more than record. AI-powered systems can spot signs of distraction or drowsiness and alert the driver in real time, giving them a chance to correct their behaviour before something goes wrong. Many large delivery fleets now use them to build a safer driving culture. (We bust some common dashcam myths in a separate article.)

Night vision

Some manufacturers now offer night vision systems that use a thermal camera to spot people, cyclists and animals in the dark, often well beyond the reach of the headlights, and show them on the dashboard display.

And self-driving?

Self-driving technology has moved fast. “Hands-free” motorway driving systems are already available on some cars, letting the vehicle steer, accelerate and brake on approved motorways while a camera checks the driver is still paying attention.

The law is catching up too. The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 created a legal framework for self-driving vehicles in Great Britain, and the government has announced pilots of self-driving services.

But for now, drivers still need to stay alert and ready to take control.

A safety net

Safety tech is only as good as the people using it. For fleets, the key is proper training and being open with drivers about what new systems do and why they’re there. Used well, technology supports good drivers – it doesn’t replace them.

When something still goes wrong

Even the most advanced vehicles break down or get into accidents. When they do, we’ll be there day or night, with the right vehicle sent first time – and technicians trained to work on today’s increasingly complex vehicles, including electric ones.

Need us? Get in touch – we’ll be right there.